Gaza Herald_ A Palestinian family in central Gaza has accused Israeli forces of fatally shooting a three-year-old child and wounding his father before abandoning them along a roadside following their detention near an Israeli-controlled military zone.
Baha Abu al-Ajeen, a 32-year-old farmer from Deir al-Balah, regularly visits agricultural land in the Wadi al-Salqa area, located close to the military boundary established by Israel inside the Gaza Strip after the October 2023 war.
According to family members, Abu al-Ajeen traveled to the farmland on Sunday evening, accompanied by his three-year-old son, Rayan, and his brother-in-law, Khaled Abu Gharaba. What began as a routine visit ended in tragedy when, relatives say, the group encountered Israeli soldiers stationed inside a nearby house.
Family elder Nawaf Abu al-Ajeen said the soldiers opened fire without warning. He stated that a bullet struck Rayan in the head while he was being carried by his father, causing fatal injuries. Baha was reportedly shot in the leg during the incident.
Relatives allege that the soldiers left both father and son bleeding before detaining Baha and Khaled. The family says the wounded father remained with his son’s body while being transported to the Kissufim military base.
According to Nawaf, Israeli troops provided only minimal treatment by wrapping cloth around Baha’s injured leg and did not offer further medical assistance. He said the child died immediately from his injuries.
Several hours later, witnesses reportedly saw Israeli soldiers leave a wounded man and a deceased child along Salah al-Din Street. Family members rushed to the location and discovered Baha and Rayan there.
The pair were transferred to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah, where doctors confirmed the child’s death. Medical staff treated Baha for a gunshot wound and stabilized a fracture in his leg. He remains hospitalized.
Rayan was buried the following day, while relatives described his mother as devastated by the loss and struggling to come to terms with what happened. Meanwhile, Khaled Abu Gharaba remains in Israeli custody, with no information available regarding his condition or whereabouts.
The Israeli military stated that its forces had opened fire on what it described as members of an armed group attempting to approach the military boundary area.
Khalil al-Daqran, spokesperson for Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, confirmed that the hospital received a wounded man and the body of his young son shortly after midnight. He said the child had suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the head, while the father was receiving treatment for injuries to his leg.
Growing Concerns Over Killings Near Military Boundary Areas
The incident comes amid increasing concern from human rights organizations and United Nations officials regarding civilian deaths near areas controlled by Israeli forces.
A report issued by the UN Human Rights Office in May found that roughly one-third of Palestinians killed by Israel after the October ceasefire were killed near the ceasefire boundary, raising questions about whether civilians were being targeted while carrying out ordinary activities.
The UN office warned that if civilians were shot without posing a threat, such incidents could constitute unlawful killings and potential war crimes under international law.
Ajith Sungay, head of the UN Human Rights Office in the occupied Palestinian territory, described the pattern as alarming. He noted that many of those killed appeared to have been engaged in everyday civilian activities and did not present any danger to Israeli soldiers.
Human rights advocates in Gaza say large sections of the territory are now designated as restricted military zones, leaving civilians at risk of being shot or detained even when attempting to access farmland, homes, or essential services.
According to Alaa Skafi, director of the Al-Dameer Association for Human Rights, civilians approaching these areas are frequently subjected to gunfire from snipers, tanks, drones, or other military units despite posing no apparent threat.
He further alleged that Israeli forces regularly shift the boundaries of restricted areas and then justify attacks by claiming civilians crossed military lines.
Palestinian Health Ministry figures released this week state that since the ceasefire agreement took effect on October 11, Israeli military actions have killed 992 Palestinians and wounded 3,144 others across the Gaza Strip.
